Beyond Speaking Up:
How Family Councils Turn Individual Voices into Collective Change
Follow-Up to “Speaking Up or Staying Silent? The Reality of Family Advocacy in Long-Term Care
Family Councils in long-term care provide an important way for families to raise concerns and work collaboratively with care teams. Something many family members have experienced but rarely discuss openly: the fear that speaking up could negatively affect the care of someone they love. What is often missing from this conversation is the recognition that long-term care already has a legislated mechanism designed specifically to address these concerns: the Family Council.
Karen Tyrell, Dementia Consultant and Educator, from Dementia Solutions, and
Lisa Dawson, President of the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC, explored how Family Councils in long-term care create a safe, collaborative way for families, residents, and care teams to work together to improve quality of life in long-term care.
The Role of Family Councils in Long-Term Care
- Why families often hesitate to advocate and how to overcome that fear.
- The important role Family and Resident Councils play in creating meaningful change.
- How collaboration between families and care teams leads to better outcomes for everyone.
- Practical ways to turn individual concerns into positive, lasting improvements.
This session cited many resources for long-term care home teams and resident care partners. We have captured them here in this handout:
